I’ve been meaning to write this post for a while — and we’re talking about the top health and wellness books that you should consider reading one day.

I’ve read them all, and they have been so helpful in my life. And I’m considering going back through to read some of them again, because I own them all and they are on my bookshelf at home. That’s the beauty of owning books — they are yours to revisit whenever you need. 

If you’ve never read a health and wellness book before, you’re probably thinking that it will be boring, but these books are all really well-written and enjoyable to read, because of the personal stories included. You won’t feel like you’re reading a textbook, but you’ll be learning the entire time. And knowledge is truly power!

I’ve made some positive changes in my life based on what I’ve learned in the following books, and that’s worth its weight in gold. These books span a few topics, and I’m specifying the why on each so you can choose which one you’re going to read first.

Here we go …

Five health books you should read one day (my TOP health and wellness books)

“Eat Smarter: Use the Power of Food to Reboot Your Metabolism, Upgrade Your Brain and Transform Your Life” by Shawn Stevenson

Read this one if you want to learn about the food you’re eating and how it affects everything you do. Shop “Eat Smarter” here.

This is the newest book on the list, with the latest and greatest information on all things diet and nutrition.

Because I’m such a Shawn Stevenson fan, I had “Eat Smarter” on my radar for a while and just knew I would love it. A few months ago, I checked it out of the library and began working through it, slowly but surely, trying to absorb all the powerful information.

Then a few weeks into my reading journey, I bought my own copy off Amazon. Because not only did I want to support Shawn (he’s awesome, and I had the chance to work with him in person a few years ago through 24 Hour Fitness), but I also wanted to spend more time with the book. And I wanted to keep it in my collection (and it’s now on my shelf with all my other a-game books).

(“Eat Smarter“)

This book is so full of valuable information about exactly what foods can do in your life, down to the science of how specific nutrients act in your system. Basically, Shawn goes through every food item (including produce, meats, coffee, nuts, snacks, water, alcohol and more) and exactly how it works in your system and what you should know.

Shawn even offers a 30-day eating plan to help you clean up your diet and eating habits, which I didn’t follow, but I did glance through. I’ve already recommended this book to a few people in my life, who I know will get so much out of it.

If you like a good read and you’re ready to learn a ton about nutrition, healthy habits and more, get “Eat Smarter” ASAP.

“The Body Book: The Law of Hunger, the Science of Strength and Other Ways to Love Your Amazing Body” by Cameron Diaz

Read this one if you want to get a better understanding of major health principles like how digestion happens in your body, what exercise does to your body and why it really matters to care about your health. This book is a great place to start as your first health book. Shop “The Body Book” here.

This book is several years old (from 2013), but I had always heard good things and so I really wanted to read it. And it had to be on my list of top health and wellness books.

Here’s the deal with this book — it somehow is good for people with all levels of health and fitness knowledge — from the newbie to the more well-versed.

While I was way into it for the first half, I found that I lost a bit of interest toward the second half, as it started to slow down a bit in the middle — but overall, it’s full of delicious and easy-to-understand valid information that you don’t always see in all the latest trendy wellness articles you may read online. I’m talking details on your cells, the intestines, micronutrients, the functions of certain muscles in the body, how the heart works, real chemistry and so much more. There’s a ton of science in “The Body Book,” and it’s well-written for sure.

(“The Body Book“)

Cameron Diaz, a Hollywood celeb and an unlikely author, wrote the book because she grew up pretty unhealthy and when she finally started exercising and learning about nutrition, her whole life changed, and she wanted to share it with the world. She used a co-author, and together they created this book. And she says:

“Educating yourself about your body is one of the most important things that you can do. Because nutrition and fitness and awareness and discipline are not just words: they are tools.”

I love the fact that this book is about understanding the science of the body to have the power to know the truth — rather than have to be a bystander hearing a bunch of misinformation. 

Three cheers for being knowledgable and empowered to take your health and fitness into your own hands, and we can thank “The Body Book” for that. Also, I wrote a whole review post about this book here.

“Sleep Smarter: 21 Essential Strategies to Sleep Your Way to A Better Body, Better Health and Bigger Success” by Shawn Stevenson

Read this one if you’re feeling tired and know you need a little help in the sleep department. And sleep is something we should all care about. Shop “Sleep Smarter” here.

This is the first real health book I ever read, so it has a special place in my heart. 🙂 

This book is not just about sleep, it’s about overall wellness. But, even if it was just about sleep, it’s worthy of a full book — because sleep is truly EVERYTHING.

Shawn Stevenson is also the host of one of my favorite podcasts, “The Model Health Show,” and “Sleep Smarter” takes so much of the knowledge he shares on his podcast, but goes even deeper into sleep.

I greatly improved my sleep after reading this book and have never felt better than when I started to get truly quality sleep and have a plan in place for the right sleep hygiene. (Which can sometimes be messed up by small children, but you still have to try to get good sleep when you can.)

(“Sleep Smarter“)

I wrote a whole post about what I learned from reading “Sleep Smarter,” but it’s not just about taking the cliff-notes on this book, it’s about soaking up the whole package by reading it for yourself. Shawn puts some of his fitness, food and overall wellness tips into the book too, combined with personal stories — so you won’t get bored.

When you realize how much sleep affects and impacts every other part of your life, you will definitely want to focus on cleaning up your sleep habits. And it’s not just about sleeping longer, it’s about sleeping better. After reading this book, I increased my magnesium intake, I began using the night shift option on my phone, I turned down the temperature of my room and sought out sunlight and fresh air first thing in the morning, and that’s just the start of it.

Overall, I’m totally due to read “Sleep Smarter” again. It’s so powerful.

“WomanCode: Perfect Your Cycle, Amplify Your Fertility, Supercharge Your Sex Drive and Become a Power Source” by Alisa Vitti

Read this one if you’re a woman. Yup. Every woman should read this. Shop “WomanCode” here.

Hands down. Ladies, you should to read this one. Even if you don’t think you have any hormonal issues at all, this book is all about understanding and living with your natural cycles. And it’s such an eye-opening read. If you’ve ever wondered if the health issues you are facing could be related to your hormones, you may be surprised to find that they do, and this book will help you sort through it.

I read this book after I had already recovered from hypothalamic amenorrhea, but I wish I had read it sooner, because it may have helped me along. The author, Alisa Vitti, suffered from a terrible case of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), which she struggled to get help with until she turned to holistic methods and working with her cycle. She took what she learned and opened up a health coaching practice, which has turned into an online community and now a book too. Thus, the WomanCode protocol was born.

What did I learn in this book? Women are not men. We cannot follow the same health, diet and fitness guidelines that men follow, and everything we do needs to protect our natural hormones.

(“WomanCode“)

The things the WomanCode protocol teaches you to do naturally:

• Stabilize your blood sugar
• Nurture your adrenal glands
• Support your organs of elimination
• Sync with your menstrual cycle
• Engage your feminine energy (this is where I got a little lost on the fluff, but was still able to appreciate the lessons and product and supplement suggestions)

Reading this book is where I first started to understand how toxic cleaning products and other things in our environment are actually “endocrine disruptors,” which infiltrate our bodies and affect our hormones negatively. And I have since, as you know, switched to clean beauty and skincare products because of it.

Now, I will admit that I don’t fully follow her protocol, nor do I think that anyone that reads the book needs to, but I think you will likely make some changes to your food, fitness and wellness routines once you understand how you should be following the flow of your flow, if you know what I mean.

This is another one that I really need to read again. It’s just that good. Sisters, do yourself a favor and read “WomanCode“!

“The Longevity Book: The Science of Aging, the Biology of Strength and the Privilege of Time,” by Cameron Diaz

Read this one if you care about aging gracefully, passing down good genes to your children and grandchildren and you want to know how to be healthy for the long term. Shop “The Longevity Book” here.

The Longevity Book is not an anti-aging book, but it’s a holistic look at how the female body ages. This book is full of so much beneficial information — for women at any age, especially those of us who are in our 30s and see 40 on the horizon.

“Beauty appreciates, not depreciates. It grows, not fades, with age, I have developed a more nuanced understanding of what beauty really is. Beauty is not just something you are born with. Beauty is something you grow into.” 

(“The Longevity Book“)

Right now, we’re taught that 40 is old, especially for a woman, and it used to be that way. The life expectancy for a woman in the U.S. was 40 in the 1850s. Now, the life expectancy has doubled to 80 for women and 75 for men, thanks in part to advances in medicine and technology. And this book reminds us that the 40s are really just an extension of the 30s and certainly not the end of our lives. However, just because we are living longer, are we living better? That’s the question “The Longevity Book” tries to help us figure out. 

In this book, we learn not only about the terms you need to know like life expectancy, health span and more, but we also learn how your gene expression can be passed down from generation to generation and how women are more prone to so many diseases and issues. 

This book is written by women, but it’s not just for women, and I think anyone could really benefit from reading it. Also, I wrote a whole review post on “The Longevity Book,” so check that out here.

And that concludes the list!

Thanks for reading this list of my top health and wellness books, my friends! 

I challenge you to consider taking on one of these titles and getting through it. And if you do, please let me know what you learn/think. Be well (read)! 🙂 

Other posts you may like …

• The five best nonfiction books I’ve read in the last six months
• Interesting facts about food and the body I learned from reading “The Body Book” by Cameron Diaz
• Three important health lessons I learned from reading “The Longevity Book”
• Three health and wellness books that changed my life
• Six ways to save money on health and wellness (wellness on a budget)

Questions of the day for YOU …

What’s the best health and wellness book you’ve ever read?

Have you read any of the books on this list?

If you’re a reader, when is your favorite time to read? (I read before bed every night.)